Mazel tov!  August will be my family’s 10-year Aliyahversary, meaning ten years ago we left our life in America and moved to Israel. I can’t believe a decade has passed and it seems like just yesterday we boarded the plane.

Speaking of planes, based on the Nefesh B’Nefesh summer flight schedule, it looks like lots of folks will be flying this summer.  Though it’s been many years since we were on that charter flight from JFK to Tel Aviv, I’m going to recommend some things to take on the plane. This list is catered toward families with elementary school-aged children based on my experience with traveling with kids who were aged 3-11.

DO travel lightly.  The less you bring, the less you have to shlep. Everything feels heavier when you’re tired.  As a parent, even though my children were “supposed to” be responsible for their own backpacks, I ended up carrying most of them and feeling like a pack mule.

DO bring

• gum
• lots of nosh- chips, pretzels, granola.  Be sensitive to items with peanuts or other allergens that could be dangerous to other passengers.
• special treats- novelty candy, lollypops, etc, These are the items I never buy but they did keep the kids happy and entertained. These are the treats that include a novelty toy like a flashlight or other figit. Amazingly, this kept the kids busy for hours.
• a neck pillow
• comfy socks or slippers (if you want to take off shoes)
• phone or other devices for music + headphones.  I haven’t flown in 10 years so I am not sure what in-flight options are currently.
• deck of cards
• a sweater or sweatshirt
• favorite stuffed animal/comfort item
• a chapter book for avid readers
• drawing paper, coloring book, activity book, and coloring utensils
• journal for older kids who like to write

El Al Airlines has a good article called Flying With Children with additional suggestions on preparing for the flight.

Here’s an article from Nefesh B’Nefesh on Aliyah flight luggage guidelines I recommend reading if you are flying in the near future.

Wishing you safe and happy travels and if you have any pre-aliyah questions in the jurisdiction of your “stuff” don’t hesitate to contact me

Karen, The Klutter Koach

Have you missed any of The Aliyah Files?

1. Housekeeping 101 in Israel
2. Recommended Cleaning Products to Buy in Israel
3. No Closets?! Where Do I Keep My Clothes?
4. Small Appliances: What to Bring and What to Buy
5. Doors, Light Switches, Toilets, and Other Oddities of Your New Home
6. Preparing for Pesach in Israel-Time Management, Shopping, and Organizational Strategies
7. To Bring or Not to Bring, That is the Question
8. The Illustrated Guide to School Supplies
9. The First Week of School and What to Expect
10. Pumpkin-Spiced Latte
11. America’s got S’Mores. Israel’s got Krembos. Comparison of these 2 Marshmallow Treats
12. Ideas for adding color to a colorless standard Israeli apartment
13. Essential Hebrew Part I
14.  Essential Hebrew Part II
15. 5 Items to buy the first week after of arriving in Israel
16. Over-the-Counter-Medication
17. Ditch the Warehouse Club Mentality
18. Welcome to Israel!
19. Healthy Eating on a Budget
20. The month of Shevat important events: Tu B’Shevat and First Semester Report Cards
21. The Ultimate in Decluttering Part IV
22. It’s About Time. A post about being on time, starting on time, and scheduling
23. Summer is Sizzling. Stay Hydrated!
24. Helpful solutions for lack of storage space that don’t involve drilling holes in the wall
25. Best Snacks to Send to School
26. My home is so dusty! Help!
27. You’ve finished your stash of Motrin and Tylenol, now what? Here’s the Israeli OTC medication guide for Fever, Aches & Pains
28. The Aliyah Homemaker: Washing floors the Israeli way
29. Having Tummy Trouble? What OTC meds can you take for relief?

 

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